Page 56 of Lethal Vengeance

A sharp inhale is the only response I get.

Cruz slides quietly around the corner ten minutes later. “What happened?” His eyes sweep over Quinn and land on me.

“Armando’s punishment,” I spit out, fury coating my voice.

“Did you kill him?” His voice is a whisper filled with the promise of death.

Grinding my teeth, I manage to grunt out a reply. “She made me promise to stay here.”

He winces. “And you?”

“A little warning from the man himself to all of us. Get out of town,” I state with a snort. “If you can carry her, I’m ready to get out of this hellhole.”

Cruz holds up a hand to stop me. “We’re attacking the facility in a few days.” He taps his ear. “You have the option of staying here to feed us intel from the inside or getting out now.”

“He’s getting out now,” Quinn states firmly beside me. Her eyes pleading with me to agree. “You’re already hurt. If Armando comes back, who knows what he’ll do?”

I cock my head to the side and raise an eyebrow. “Even in our short time together, I believe you know me better than that, mon petit oiseau. I can be of more help here.”

Her jaw locks. Fierce green eyes wage a silent battle against me. My mouth twitches, but I press my lips firmly together to hold back my smile. Besides, her protectiveness feels good. It means there is something between us besides a kiss. Or two.

She sighs. “Fine. We all have jobs to do.” Her words are clipped, but from worry, not anger. She darts a glance at Cruz. “Did you happen to bring my backpack and some clothes?”

He nods and disappears, only to return a few minutes later with the requested items.

She takes the backpack from him and digs around inside it. With a triumphant smile, she pulls out the cream I gave her the night of the fight.

“I don’t know what’s in this, but it’s a miracle in a jar. The soreness and bruises on my neck and wrist disappeared a million times quicker than anything I’ve ever used. Thank you.” She hands it to me.

Her fingers pull the bottom of her shirt to expose the bruises on her abdomen and back. “If you wouldn’t mind putting it on me, I can leave the rest here with you.”

Danger makes the hairs on the back of my neck rise. I quickly glance toward the hallway, but it’s empty. With a frown, I look up at Cruz to ask him to check, but the words die in my throat. The threat is coming from him.

Observant eyes catalog every bruise on Quinn’s body as if locking them into his memory. “How the hell did you do it?” he softly questions me.

“Not sure. But it’s never happening again,” I retort, a firm promise in my statement.

He assesses the look in my eyes and sucks in a huge breath. “I’m going to sweep nearby. The guards will finish their rotation in six minutes, which gives us a small exit window.” With one last glare at Quinn’s injuries, he disappears.

I turn my attention back to Quinn.

Should I tell her they each have a jar?

The thought makes me shake my head. Even though I promised her I wouldn’t intervene, these bruises are on me. I need to do this. “Lie back. I’ll do your front first.”

She eases down onto the hard cot. Her beautiful eyes flick up to watch me.

With careful precision, I smooth the cream into her body, making sure to get every single spot. Her skin feels soft and luxurious beneath my fingers, and the desire to touch her everywhere thrums in my veins. Thankfully, the clock ticking in the back of my mind helps me rein it in.

Slim fingers entwine with mine, and my eyes dart to hers. “Would you mind helping me up?” Her husky voice and flushed cheeks makes me groan.

Quickly coughing to cover it up, I help her stand, then finish putting the cream on her back.

“How much time?” she asks suddenly.

“Two minutes.”

She twirls around and scoops some cream into her hand. “Turn around. Let me put this on your back before I leave.”